Panel for visible record equipment



Sept. ll, 1951 M. B. HALL 2,567,705

PANEL FOR VISIBLE RECORD EQUIPMENT Filed May 5, 1948 l 2 sheets-sheet 1 n; y in.

Sept. 11, 1951 M. B. HALL. 2,557,705

PANEL F'OR VISIBLE RECORD EQUIPMENT Filed May 5, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 11, 1951 PANELAFOR VISIBLE RECORD EQUIPMENT Marchand B. Hall, Chicago, Ill., assigner to Acme Visible Records, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware ApplicationMay 5, 1948, Serial No. 25,248

(Cl. llll-402) 6 Claims. 1.

ThisY invention relates to improvements in panels for visible record equipment and refers particularly to a panel construction so devised that relatively thin metal or metals heretofore not considered possessed of requisite strength and stiffness for panel purposes, may be employed, the resulting panels having not only the required strength and stiffness but being characterized in that they are relatively light lin weight.

Panels used for visible record equipment comprise essentially at sheet material having a U-shaped metal binding at the edges thereof which are usually spot welded to the flat sheet. Upon opposite side edges, usually the opposite longitudinal side edges, the U-shaped binding `is carried inwardly from the edges in overhanging relationship to the plane of the sheet to provide channels for the reception of the ends of index or record strips which lay upon the faces of the sheet.

In view of the fact that such panels are of relatively great area with respect to their thickness they tend to become distorted, wrenched or warped, and hence it has heretofore been deemed necessary to construct the sheet stock of steel of not less than a predetermined thickness. In addition, the U-shaped binding strips which to a degree tend `to stiffen the sheet were also constructed of relatively `thick steel, particularly in view of the fact that the overhanging flanges providing the channels served as an unintended means for inadvertently opening up the U of the edge strips, that is, the overhanging fianges are frequently accidentally lifted from their normal overhanging position, the strain of the lifting stress being exhibited at `the U-bend of the strip particularly if the stress occurred intermediate adjacent spot welds.

AsY a feature of my invention, I may construct my panel of thinner sheet stock than has heretofore been deemed practical, or the entire panel, including the edge binding strips, may be constructed of aluminum or other light-weight metal or alloys thereof.

In constructing my panel, I provide acentral sheet of relatively thin steel or aluminum, and

bind the edges with thin steel or aluminum strips.

However, along those opposite edges which carry the channels I form a plurality of transverse beadsl whichfextend from the defining edges of the panel to the outer edges of the overhanging. flanges..

The provision of the transverse beads, placed as. described, notonly augments the strengthening and stiffening action of the binding strips upon the panel sheet, but in addition, said beads are so placed and may be appropriately spaced from each other so' as to stiifen and reinforce the-overhanging fianges,. effectively decreasing the lever arm through which a force may act which would` tendrto raise the flange and open upfthe Uy of the binding strip'.

Frequently, panels of the class described are employed in stands wherein the panels are disposed in the fashion of leaves in a book, the panels being hinged to the stand by pintle pins. In such use, diiiiculty has frequently been encountered in swinging the panels upon the stand in that there is a tendency for the outer shoulder of the flange of one panel to engage the inner edge of the flange of an adjacent panel and thereby cause said panel to bind and not swing freely. This difliculty is likely to occur -along either edge of the panels, that is, either the hinged edge or the swinging edge. Of course, the treatment that panels may receive when such binding occurs frequently results in destruction of one or both panels which are mutually 0bstructed.

As a further feature of my invention the transverse beads, hereinbefore described, in addition to performing the functions hereinbefore described, also serve as buffers or deectors which prevent interengagement of the flanges of adjacent panels and, hence, prevent binding of the swingable panels.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and following detailed description,

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational View of my improved panel.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken through a desk stand with which my invention may be employed.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3 illustrating the manner in which panels constituting my invention fall together.

Fig. 5 is a similar view illustrating conventional panels in the same position, showing the manner in which such panels become locked or jammed.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken on line 6--6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a similar view taken on line 1 1 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a similar view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 1.

Referring in detail to the drawings l indicates a panel which may be employed to support a plurality of index strips 2, only a few of which are shown. The panel l, however, in use is adapted to carry more strips than here shown and, said strips are carried adjacent both faces of the panel. The panel l comprises a sheet of relatively flat metal 3, such as, steel, aluminum or the like, the sheet 3 constituting the major portion of the area of the panel.

The panel l is normally rectangular in shape andis usually constructed oblong and the strips 2 are usually positioned parallel to the shortest dimension of the panel. However, for purposes of the present invention it is immaterial whether said panel is square or oblong or whether the strips are parallel to, or transverse to the shortest side, if the panel is oblong. For purposes of description the strips 2 are shown as being parallel to the shortest side of the panel and transverse to the hinge to be hereinafter more fully described.

The end edges of the flat sheet 3, that is, the edges at right angles to the hinge, are embraced by U-shaped strips 4 which are constructed of metal and are preferably spot-welded, as at 5, to the sheet 3. When strips 4 are positioned as described the inner faces of the opposed legs of said strips are disposed iiush with the face of the sheet 3.

One longitudinal edge of the sheet 3 is em braced by a U-shaped metal strip G which at the U-bend is formed as a bead 'I adapted to embrace and carry a pintle 8. The pintle 8 extends beyond the ends of the sheet 3 and provides a pair of hinge pins 9 whereby the panel may be swingably mounted upon a suitable support. The opposed legs of the strip 6, adjacent the bead 'I are formed flush with the surface of the sheet 3, as shown best at I0, in Fig. 6 and are spot-welded, as at II to thesheet. Toward the edges of the strip 6, the opposed legs are upraised from the faces of the sheet to provide channels I2 for the reception of one end of each of the visible record strips 2.

The opposite longitudinal edge of the sheet 3 is also embraced by a U-shaped metal strip I3, a portion of the opposed legs thereof being positioned flush with, and spot-welded as at I4, to the opposite surfaces of the sheet 3. Similar to the strip 6, those portions of the opposed legs of the strip I3 adjacent the edges thereof are spaced from the opposite faces of the sheet 3 to provide channels for the reception of the opposite ends of the visible record strips 2. The edge of the sheet 3 embraced by the strip I3 constitutes the free edge of the panel I and` said strip together with the confined sheet may be provided with a plurality of perforations I5 to receive an index tab I8 which is customarily used with panels of the type described.

As a feature of the present invention, a plurality of spaced transverse beads II andy I8 are formed respectively on strips 6 and I3 along spaced intervals of the length of the strips. The beads Il' extend from the channel-defining portions of the opposed legs of the strip 6 to the bead 'I and the upper surfaces of said transverse beads are substantially flush with the upper surfaces of said channel-defining members and said bead l, as shown best in Figs. 6 and 7. The transverse beads I8 are substantially similar to the beads I'I except that they extend to the edge of the sheet, there being no pintle bead I at the free edge of the panel. y

In view of the fact that no pintle bead 1 is provided at the free edge of the panel, the transverse beads I8 are spaced closer together than are the beads I'I to impart equal strength and rigidity to the opposite edges of the panel.

There are a number of advantages which are brought about by the provision of the transverse beads I'I and I8. The transverse beads augment the reinforcing and stiifening function performed by the strips 5 and I3 with respect to the panel without increasing the gauge of the metal comprising the sheet 3 or the border strips. Conversely, for a panel of predetermined dimensions and of predetermined strength, stiffness and rigidity, the sheet 3 and bordering strips may be constructed of smaller gauge metal or the metal may comprise aluminum or other light weight metal or alloy in place of the steel ordinarily used.

Another advantage brought about by the transverse beads I'I and I8 comprises the reinforcing effect Which they produce upon those portions of the strips 6 and I3 which overhang the face of the sheet 3 to provide the channels for the receiving of the visible record strips 2. In the usual construction heretofore employed the overhanging members comprised, in effect, cantilevers whose resistance to being unintentionally raised from the face of the sheet was entirely dependent upon anchorages provided by the spot-welds II and I4. In effect, therefore, the lever arm by which said overhanging members could be unintentionally raised comprised essentially the width of the strip from its edge to the U-bend.

By the provision of the transverse beads I'I and I8 this effective lever arm is substantially shortened since the stress tending to raise the overhanging members is resisted not only by the spotwelds but by the beads themselves, that is, the lever arm comprises essentially the distance from the edge of the strip to the inner ends of the beads, that is, the Width of the overhanging members as opposed to -the entire width of the strips.

Another advantage `which accrues by the provision of the transverse beads I'I and I8 will be observed by reference to Figs. 3, 4 and 5. In Fig. 3 a desk stand I9 is illustrated. The stand I9 comprises a base 20 and an upright supporting member 2 I. A plurality of hinge receiving eyelets 22 are positioned upon the ends of the base 20 and the upright 2i, the eyelets being adapted to receive the hinge pins 9 of a panel I. It is to be understood, of course, that in the usual desk stand construction a plurality of pairs of eyelets are provided throughout the length of the base and supporting member whereby a plurality of panels are hingedly positioned upon the desk stand, the panels being adapted to swing in leaf fashion. It is also to be understood that the problem which will be hereinafter more fully explained, occurs in conjunction with other environments in which the panels I may be employed. How ever, for purposes of description the difficulty which has heretofore been encountered will be explained in conjunction with the usual desk stand.

Fig. 5 illustrates in transverse section the relative position of a plurality of panels which may be mounted upon the desk stand I9. In this iigure the panels illustrated are of the conventional type heretofore employed. In Fig. 4 a similar View is illustrated wherein panels I are employed. For purposes of description the members shown in Fig. 5 will be designated with primed numerals corresponding to the corresponding portions of the panels I.

It is well known in the art that panels I when employed upon a device such as the desk stand I9 swing about the pivot pins so that the operator may have ready access to any of the strips 2 carried upon the panels. In swinging the panels about the pivot pins a situation arises such as illustrated in Fig. 5. Attention is particularly directed to panel 23 and panel 24, wherein it will be seen that an overhanging member 25 has its edge engaged with shoulder 26 of the strip upon panel 23. When the parts are in this relative position it can readily be seen that if panel 23 were to be rotated in a counterclockwise direction, binding would occur between the shoulder 26 of panel 23 and the edge of the overhanging member 25 of panel 24. In other words, the operator would find that the panels were locked and if force were exerted, the overhanging portion 25 of panel 24 would be bent as would also be the shoulder 25 of panel 23.

Referring particularly to Fig. 4 wherein panels I are shown in the same relative position, it can readily be seen that the corresponding parts which cause the binding of the panels are spaced from each other by the provision of the transverse beads I7. In other words, the upper edges of the transverse beads I7 function as buffers or guides whereby the overhanging flanges of one panel will be prevented from engaging with the shoulders of the corresponding overhanging flanges upon an adjacent panel when the panels are swung about their pivot points.

Although the possibility of binding is illustrated in Fig. 5 wherein panels heretofore used were employed, the binding taking place adjacent the hinge edges of the panels, under certain circumstances and in certain installations the same difficulty occurs at the free edges of the panels.

In other words, the overhanging edge of one strip is likely to engage with the shoulder of an adjacent strip at the free edges of the panel. By the provision of the transverse beads I8, that is, the transverse beads at the free edges of the panels I, such interlocking or binding during rotation of the panels is prevented.

One of the important ultimate features of the present invention, as has been heretofore described, resides in a panel construction which permits the production of a panel which for predetermined strength can be made of thinner material.

Another feature of the invention resides in the fact that the constructional aspects of the panel are such that light weight sheet metals such as aluminum or the like can be employed as panel material. By virtue of the difculties which have been herein described, when the conventional panel heretofore employed was used, such material as aluminum sheet could not be used since it does not possess sufficient strength, stiffness or rigidity.

However, by the provision of the transverse beads I1 and I8, the entire panel l is so strengthened by virtue of its construction features that a weaker material than steel such as aluminum can be efficiently employed. Obviously, by employing aluminum the over-all Weight of a panel of predetermined strength is materially reduced which, of course, is highly desirable since such visible record equipment with which the panels may be employed is materially easier to handle.

I claim as my invention:

1. A panel for visible record strips which comprises, a relatively fiat sheet metal, U-shaped metallic strips mounted in contacting relationship opposite edge portions of the faces of said sheet, a portion of said strips being spaced from the face of said sheet to provide channels for the reception of visible record strips, and a plurality of transverse beads formed upon said metallic strips extending substantially from the base of said channels to the U-bend of said metallic strips.

2. A panel for visible record strips which comprises, a relatively flat metal sheet, a one-piece U-shaped metallic strip mounted in contacting plane-parallel relationship upon opposite edge portions of the faces of said sheet, a portion of each of said strips being spaced from'the face of said sheet to provide channels extending substantially parallel to said edges of said sheet for the reception of visible record strips, a hinge pin carried by one of said metallic strips 'whereby said panel may be hinged to a supporting frame, and a plurality of transverse beads formed upon the other metallic strip extending substantially from the base of said channel to the U-bend of said strip.

3. A panel for visible record strips which comprises, a relatively at metal sheet, one piece U- shaped metallic strips embracing opposite edges of said sheet, and in contacting relationship with a face of said sheet, a portion of said strips being spaced from the face of said sheet to provide channels for the reception of visible record strips, a hinge pin carried by one of said metallic strips whereby said panel may be hinged to a supporting frame, and a plurality of transverse beads formed upon the other metallic strip extending substantially from said channel to the U-bend of said strip, the upper surface of said U-bend being substantially flush with the upper surface of said channel-forming portion of said metallic strip.

4. A panel for visible record strips which comprises, a relatively iiat metal sheet, U-shaped metallic strips embracing opposite edges of said sheet, portions of said metallic strips being disposed ilush with the opposite faces of said sheet, portions of said metallic strips being spaced from the faces of said sheet to provide channels for the reception of visible record strips, and a plurality of transverse beads formed upon said firstmentioned portions of said metallic strips.

5. A panel for visible record strips which cornprises, a relatively flat metal sheet, U -shaped metallic strips embracing opposite edges of said sheet, portions of said metallic strips being disposed flush with the opposite faces of said sheet, portions of said metallic strips being spaced from the faces of said sheet to provide channels for the reception of visible record strips, and a plurality of transverse beads formed upon said firstmentioned portions of said metallic strips, said beads being upraised from the faces of said sheet.

6. A panel for visible record strips which coniprises, a relatively flat metal sheet, U-shaped metallic strips embracing opposite edges of said sheet, portions of said metallic strips being disposed ush with the opposite faces of said sheet, portions of said metallic strips being spaced from the faces of said sheet to provide channels for the reception of visible record strips, and a plurality of transverse beads formed upon said first-mentioned portions of said metallic strips, said beads being upraised from the faces of said sheet, and the upper surfaces of said beads being substantially flush with the upper portions of said channel-forming portions of said metallic strips.

` MARCHAND B. HALL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

